Oxford waterways a shared vision Oxford is built upon the waterways, Oxford’s waterways have played an important role in the success of the city, fuelling trade and industry and its canal and rivers are an asset supporting its growth over the years. Today, while the waterways have changed in their use, bringing many benefits to the city they continue to bring many benefits to the city. and our communities. The landscape and heritage of the waterways adds value to those areas directly alongside, but also to the We have a shared vision and will character and identity of the city as a whole. The rivers and canal provide opportunities for tourism work as a partnership to protect and leisure use, supporting local businesses and the wider and enhance them. economy. Our waterways add to the city’s public open spaces, places to exercise and relax. They create new routes for sustainable transport, with cycling and walking bringing health and wellbeing benefits to our growing population. Rich in biodiversity, they provide with evidence that healthy, vibrant important habitat and havens for waterways bring jobs, the right kind wildlife, with some world-class sites of growth and a wealth of social of special scientific interest. outcomes such as fairness and equality. I hope this prospectus goes The waterways support diverse a long way to encouraging more of communities who live on them, Oxford‘s citizens to recognise the providing an opportunity to live ways in which waterways improve a lower-impact lifestyle and more our lives and have a wider social and affordable accommodation. economic purpose than they have in the past. They also create opportunities for education, volunteering and cultural activities, supporting social inclusion and helping build stronger, safer communities.
The waterways are part of the fabric of our city and country - our canals and rivers were crucial in shaping the Britain we live in today. We need to enhance and protect them, so that future generations Councillor Tom Hayes can enjoy them. Local passion for Cabinet Member for reviving our waterways can combine a Zero Carbon Oxford Oxford City regeneration Moorings and service provision Waterways 8 miles main waterways in numbers boats400 moored in Oxford city
households 7 estimated Our key themes Listed 18 0 living on boats structures include locks, 3 Waterways City regeneration bridges and buildings “gateways” to 3 marinas city centre with around 200 berths Moorings and service provision invested in upgrading towpaths Tourism £1m 2018 2.5hrs to nearest Thames 4 key delivery partners Active communities 1 2 water point 2.5hrs working together to nearest Thames sewage point 3 4 environment Tourism Active communities environment
overnight adults in stays Oxford on boat overweight moorings Some of the finest fisheries in 2017 56% or obese 21,000 on the Thames £4m £4m spend 30,000
from boat adults with diabetes tourism in 2017
Huge biodiversity of 8 water wildlife and plants activity clubs for the public Around 130 pubs and species of birds restaurants sighted on Port close to a 13 37% waterway 5 miles of people in Oxford cycle 13 0 Meadow of Thames Path at least once a week, triple the UK average National Trail Sites of Scientific Special Interest, nature reserves boat5 trip and punt operators 1,600 rod and wildlife sites Climate licences held by change
Oxford anglers emergency 1,600 declared Together with our partners, we share a vision for Oxford’s waterways
They will improve Our waterways We shall protect The waterways of They will contribute the experience of will help our and enhance their Oxford will support to where we live and visitors to our city communities to live unique culture and the building of a work and how we and will support a healthy, active lives heritage and the world-class city. travel. vibrant, sustainable and add to their rich environmental economy. quality of life. habitats they offer. River Cherwell
An overview of Oxford Canal
Oxford’s waterways River Thames
In the heart of the River Thames Basin, Oxford is a city at the confluence of waterways, at the centre of several major catchments A40 which feed the River Thames. River Cherwell
Within Oxford’s city boundary, the main channel of the River Thames River Thames – sometimes known locally as the Isis - is around 5 miles long. It A34 flows into the city from the west, before turning south on its course Oxford Canal to Abingdon and beyond.
The River Cherwell is a major tributary, flowing in to the city with around 4 miles of main channel, much of it flowing through university parkland, before it joins the River Thames.
Both rivers have had their courses altered o ver time as the city has grown and there are a multitude of streams and backwaters which add to the waterways of Oxford.
The city is also the terminus of the historic Oxford Canal. Completed in 1790, it once provided a major trade artery linking the midlands with London through the wider canal system and River Thames. A4142
Today, the start of the canal in Oxford is at Hythe Bridge in the city A34 centre, running north through Jericho and Summertown to the village of Wolvercote, continuing north out of the city. Within the city, the Oxford Canal retains its connections to the River Thames both at Isis River Thames Lock leading to the Sheepwash Channel near to the city centre and at the Duke’s Cut, just outside of Wolvercote. Working in partnership
In recognition of the importance of Oxford’s waterways to the city, the key responsible agencies have committed to work together.
Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County Council, the Environment Agency and the Canal & River Trust have developed a shared vision for the waterways. These partners have agreed to work together to maximise the potential of the waterways in Oxford city, bringing benefits to all.
Each partner already has their own areas of responsibility, but by working together to coordinate our work and by using our existing expertise, staffing resource and budgets, we can take a shared approach to making improvements. By doing this, we will have greater impact and make our resources go further.
It is not only about these key agencies – we will also seek to involve our communities, local businesses, other agencies and organisations to help us in this work.
We will also work with our neighbouring district authorities, with whom we share waterways, wherever possible, learning from others and sharing any good ideas.
To have the biggest impact, our scope is focused upon the River Thames and Oxford Canal only, where there is the most opportunity for improvements. Where possible, we will include the River Cherwell and some of the small tributaries and streams. This maintains a manageable and realistic focus. Key themes
The partnership has identified the following key themes for the waterways project:
City Moorings and Tourism Active environment regeneration service provision communities
These themes provide a framework to help identify improvement projects, working with communities and local stakeholders.
This could include building upon existing activity, or may be new initiatives, working towards protecting and enhancing the waterways, maximising the benefits for all. Our success so far:
City Regeneration: Mooring & services:
Hythe Bridge Park Mooring and bankside improvements for residential boats: improvements: l Canal & River Trust delivered major improvements to l Seating sculpture renovated by Agenda 21 residential moorings Canal & River Trust volunteers l New jetties installed to improve safety for residents l Vegetation cleared by Oxford l Sensitive design protects the environment City Council volunteers Dredging programme to improve Oxford Canal navigation Increasing the number of and mooring: Towpath Taskforce volunteers: l £350,000 spent on dredging programme, prioritising l Encouraged more volunteers mooring locations to come join the Canal & River l Trust Towpath Taskforce, working 500m3 of material removed from the canal together to improve the canal area l Work parties have assisted with maintenance work, cleared graffiti, Tourism: planted shrubs to improve the look and feel and prevent anti-social Increased tourist information to behaviour help them enjoy the waterways: l New promotion of the GoodGym volunteers support waterways of Oxford as part of waterways improvements: the city’s attraction l Regular litter-picks l Walking the Thames Path l Painting out graffiti National Trail is growing in popularity with Oxford a favourite location for many Active communities: Environment:
Riverside Routes towpath Tackled pollution and fly-tipping: improvement work: l Boat-dwellers undertook a canalside clean-up l £1.8m invested in improving supported by Oxford City Council the width and surfaces of l Over 40 abandoned bikes retrieved from the River towpath routes alongside the Thames River Thames, supporting easier access for walkers, Preventing pollution cyclists, wheelchairs and and blight to the
prams. waterways by dealing with abandoned boats Promoted health and activity on the waterways: Boosted biodiversity l GoodGym sessions have and protected the environment of the waterways: brought new users to enjoy l Water voles are established on the Oxford Canal in exercising alongside the new areas waterways l Blooming wildflowers sown by volunteers a boost Promoted water safety to pollinators campaigns with our partners: l Launched the Wild Water Code l Don’t Drink and Drown campaign Wild Water Code Delivering on our priorities working with communities and partners
The key agencies will work together to coordinate our work against the themes.
There are also a number of established forum and key partners with which we will work, including (but not limited to): l Oxford City Canal Partnership l Thames River Users Groups l The Inland Waterways Association l Thames Valley Police l Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service l South Central Ambulance Service l Local residents’ associations and boater cooperatives l National Bargee Traveller Association l Thames Path National Trail l Experience Oxfordshire l Oxford Preservation Trust l Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust For further information, get in touch with the project:
Environmental Sustainability Oxford City Council St Aldate’s Chambers St Aldate‘s Oxford OX1 1DS
www.oxford.gov.uk/waterways
@Oxfordcity Pollution Restaurants Wildlife Rowing Economy
Walking Services Conservation Safety Ecology Infrastructure Thames Water Pubs Boats Cycling Anti-social Tourism Moorings Crime Climate Education TransportHousing Fishing
Plants Engagement Conservation Communities Pollution Volunteering Education Moorings
Engagement Rowing Water Fishing By working in partnership, this project seeks to maximise all of the potential benefits our waterways bring to the city of Oxford, for everyone. © Oxford City Council. CS49214 Designed by NHS Creative 2019